Talk:Moro 10:1-34

Verses 10:1-7

These are the most important verses in the Book of Mormon for one who is new to the Gospel. These verses teach men that if the have doubts, and want to know the truth, that God will make it known to them, all they need to do is ask. --Travis Justin Kamper

Personal Comments

Moroni’s final chapter is a very emotional Chapter in the Book of Mormon. The Chapter is directed to the future, and specifically to “my brethren, the Lamanites.” When Moroni closed his father’s record, he did so with what I feel is a hope or a divine inspiration for the future history of the record. In chapter 10 he finishes his own writings and prepares to bury them in the earth. At this final point, he again focuses on the future (I always think of the painting of him burying the records while praying to the Lord). Just as his father Mormon’s last words were to the future Lamanites, so too are Moroni’s last words directed to the future Lamanites- the Latter Day Lamanites. I wonder if Moroni could have ever known the influence his promise found in these verse would have on the world. Username:Bunk April 25, 2006

Verses 10:8-19

I have often taught many people that haven't ever really known too much about God moving from foreign countries. A question that often comes up is how they can know what is from God and what is not or a similar question how can they recognise the Holy Spirit. Verse 6 is so simple yet so powerful in its explication. Anything that is spiritually good is from God. He is obviously not talking of temporal temporary good but everlasting good, like Families and friends and other things of the nature that just make you fell good. Good is from God. --Bhardle, 23 Sep 2005

Verses 27-34

Hi Hsprunt, Thanks for the interesting question. I had always assumed that beautiful garments were representative of a place of honor--like special clothing for a king or queen. In that sense I hadn't read it as literal but rather saying "wake up Jerusalem and take your place of honor so that God can give you the blessings he has promised." I don't see it as a mere coincidence though that "garment" is used here and we use the same word to refer to temple garments. I think in both cases the physical clothing represents a special position (to use the wrong word no-doubt but I can't find the right one) that sets the person apart and because of that special position allows the person to receive blessings that otherwise they would not be able to have. --Matthew Faulconer 07:00, 2 Dec 2005 (UTC)

I would agree with that completely, even though I read the phrase "arise from the dust, O Jerusalem and put on thy beautiful garments" as arise from the dust, or our fallen state and put on the Atonement of Christ. Of course, it is the Atonement of Christ that allows us to take our place of honor, as you said. --User:Tyboojwa

Hi Steven, I'm not sure what you mean by midrashic. Can you explain? --Matthew Faulconer 07:13, 13 Dec 2005 (UTC)

Matthew, I am glad that you asked, because now that I think about it, midrash does not communicate precisely what I meant to say. And the word carries too much connotational baggage. In its most general sense midrash means to interpret scripture. The word Midrash comes form the Hebrew root 'darash', meaning to search or investigate. But midrash more often attempts to employ minute examination and interpretation of scripture, usually by the Jewish rabbis, to bring out the deeper or ethical meaning of the text. It can often result in peculiar, esoteric and often fanciful conclusions. Which is why midrash is probably not the right word here. It most often refers to rabbinic writings and interpretation methodologies. I suggest we simply remove the phrase altogether.

What I wanted to communicate was that Moroni was taking several scriptural phrases, originally used in a particular context, applying them on a deeper level and expounding and expanding the material. (Midrash can sometimes refer to this type of scriptural exposition.) --Steven Barton 09:02, 13 Dec 2005 (UTC)

Hi Steven, That's helpful. Thank you. Another question. What do you mean when you say:

To "strengthen thy stakes and enlarge thy borders" uses nomadic imagery of the forsaken wife and points to the reception of the eternal covenant blessings of Abraham.

I think I know what a nomad is and it makes sense to me (though I hadn't heard it before) that the imagery of strengthen thy stakes and enlarging thy borders is nomadic. However I'm not sure what it has to do with the forsaken wife.

On a related note when I read verse 31 it seems like Moroni is saying something like Jerusalem (the daughter of Zion--who has been confounded in the past) should strengthen and enlarge her tent in order to not be confounded any more. But I don't understand in this verse how strengthening the stakes in one's tent and enlarging it help prevent one from being confounded. Maybe your comment that this has to do with the imagery of the forsaken wife, is a key to an answer to that question?

By the way, I really like what you wrote here:

The phrase "deny yourselves of all ungodliness" seems to imply the "after-all-that-we-can-do" aspect of salvation by grace, but to focus on a sinless existence as the formula for perfection misses the more transcending truth wherein we are made new creatures through the reception of the Spirit by coming unto Christ in the covenant of the Father.

--Matthew Faulconer 12:57, 13 Dec 2005 (UTC)

Thank you, Matthew. You asked,

". . . how [does] strengthening the stakes in one's tent and enlarging it help prevent one from being confounded."

It is my belief that the words "that thou mayest no more be confounded" actually go back to the command, in verse 30, where we are exhorted to "come unto Christ and lay hold upon every good gift." God only commands us to enlarge our tents so that we may have room for the blessings that will be poured upon us.

In a nut-shell, I interpret the passage basically like this: "Come unto Christ, receive his redeeming gift by departing from bondage to sin, put on your robes of honor and make room for all the blessings God has promised to the children of Israel, that ye be ashamed and confounded no more." It is tempting to suggest that the garments refer to the priesthood and the enlarging of the tent points to missionary work, but we would miss the bigger, richer picture, I think.

I will add more exegesis to this subject later on the Isaiah 54 page (particularly material about the nomadic imagery and the forsaken/barren wife). --Steven Barton 07:32, 14 Dec 2005 (UTC)

Now I understand. Thanks Steven! --Matthew Faulconer 13:13, 14 Dec 2005 (UTC)